I'm suprised that no one is really talking about Kenny Tran's weekend at Moroso. He seems to be the only Honda in position to give the Ecotec cars a run for their money. Kenny picked up right where Gary G. left off and it looks like Kenny is bringing a little consistency. Hopefully he can keep it up and improve on it as the season goes on.

Qualified: 8.38 @ 170
Round 1: 8.41 @ 172
Round 2: 8.33 @ 172

That car is gettin it!

 

I am not sure about recently, but he has been off pace when compared to the times the ECOTECH cars are putting up. Last I remembered they were running 7.9-8.1 range. There is alot of difference between 8.33 and 8.1.

I agree, and he has always been a contender. But look at the guys he is running with, they were at one time(still are?) pro-budgeted teams. Money is the key here and that is something that Kenny really cant compete with IMO. Ladwig, Crawford etc...

I know he has some still left in him and he is far from being done and I am anxious to see what his future has in store for us but right now I dont think that he can compete with a high enough chance for wins as he is used to before hand There are things that also factor in that we dont see.
I can see him moving to a TC platform to be competitive and Im sure many people in the DFW would be upset to some extent until they realize it may end up being nessary. (IMO) I am pro- Honda all the way but there had to be a reason that he built the TC for VEGAS with as wild of a set-up as he did. Many people slapped on Turbos and paint etc.. They didnt go into the Motec, built motor etcthat kenny did.

I am in no way bashing him or his crew becuase I dont know him personally, and this is what I see. But look what happened to Lisa, went to Saturn to go faster and some people abandon the her fan base becuase of the move. All of this is just my personal observation and what I think the direction is going for the HOT-ROD class, but I truely hope that Kenny finds his way back to the top and stays there. I just think that at this time it is very much difficult for him and hope he can get there. He always has something up his sleeve so lets wait to see what happens Good luck this season Kenny

 

kenny came real close to knocking out gardella in eliminations... seemed like he kept getting stronger as the weekend went on... real good racing from kenny tran and crew this weekend

 

I say
to Kenny Tran and the Quaker state team.
That is the most consistency that I have ever seen from a honda Hot Rod class car. I hope it stays that was and gets a little faster. And his new paint job is wicked.

 

Kenny has def left many an opponent sleeping at the tree...

 

I def agree, Kenny is a murderer at the tree and in consitency, but he needs some more backing in my opinion. Honda, are you listening?

 

Well when I look at the $30,000 decal on the side of his trailer I guess I assume that he has pretty good backing. The GM guys have just put a serious package together and there are no shortcuts. They have a lot of R&D time between races and its paying off for them.

I realize there is a huge difference between an 8.1 and 8.3 but Kenny is the only one in the hunt and I think he made a big statement coming out like that in the first race.

I think it was an impressive showing and had he slowed his left foot .006 he would have taken care of Gardella and made the final round.

 

i agree .... go Kenny

 

Kenny put 3 great runs together. Very hard to do for a Honda B engine running on the edge (unlike the EcoTec). I would think it was his best weekend of racing. He could have won the ProFWD class with those times. I don't think more $ would help Kenny as his QuakerState deal is huge. Time for a larger engine??

 

are the b-series already almost to their limits?

 

kenny

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 4piston &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">He seems to be the only Honda in position to give the Ecotec cars a run for their money. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I disagree. JJ Olsen who is still in the process of making off-season changes is a privateer who runs 8's as well. Look for et and mph drop and increase later this season.

 

Kenny has plenty of money and more parts than you can imagine.I do think he should be able to go faster,Gary G. did.There are several other honda drivers out there that could use the money.Someone mentioned JJ Olsen, I will mention Chuck Seitsinger! If Chuck had more money he would be a MAJOR player and would give the ecotec guys a run for their money.Thats my opinion.

 

i think that GM just put so much money and effort into there few first years of racing that they got way ahead of the honda guys, no backing so there for it takes a few more years to develope something like the GM guys have right now, i think this year we will catch up... go kenny!

 

It seems Gary pushed the limit of the B motor. He never put together consistant 8.0's as something was always breaking. He told me he went thru something like 20 cylinder heads in a season because of cracking the exhaust ports from running alky and nos together.

 

Driver wise IMO Kenny is the man, he has the consistency, he has the reaction times and he is very professional and serious when it comes to race day. Team, Car and money wise....

privater vs kenny yes he has it made. Qualerstate deal vs. Factory backing=Facrtory backing. And yes compared to a privateer the Q deal is awesome but compared to a factory backed team and car with development in the motor etc from the factory team can you compare? I agree 100% kenny is the man at the tree and I agree with Earl, time to move up to make more power= lower times!

The B-series are always expanding just like the Ecotech but its alot easier to make an enine produce X amount of power and perform a certain way when you have the factory helping you out. Its racing and its to go fast for both parties but there will come a time when everything is done and it is still very difficult to compete becuase of money issues.( Money= traction, power, arodynamics, suspension) Look at the people who have progressively advanced from class to class HOT ROD to PRO FWD ECT... IMO, its time for kenny to move up. His reaction times are in range so is his consitency. I feel that car to car he is being held back. Gary may have realized this changed brands and got his sponsor back and I can bet once he gets the bugs worked out that he will be in the 7 range as well.

This is just my opionion and observation and thoughts. Kenny is still very competitive and very friendly and I hope him the best luck this season

 

GO KENNY GO!

 

Hmmmm, wasn't that car running 8.45-8.50s, 2 seasons ago on a stock transmission?

 

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Suprdave &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hmmmm, wasn't that car running 8.45-8.50s, 2 seasons ago on a stock transmission?

</TD></TR></TABLE>
Yeah but there was a big difference in power there. I think last year they really went through some growing pains with the new tranny as you do with any new major change. If they can come out like that every race I bet you will see that thing getting closer to the 8.10s at some point this season.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Quik Chris &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I disagree. JJ Olsen who is still in the process of making off-season changes is a privateer who runs 8's as well. Look for et and mph drop and increase later this season. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Its going to take more than one fast pass a year to chase down those GM boys. .030 lights and 8.25 passes "might" get the job done once or twice and right now Kenny is the only one REMOTELY close to that.

Chuck Demaree Bryan J. Bear JJ Can't wait to see how everyone does.

I'd like to see someone with a good budget and a good chassis try an H motor with an XTRAC.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 4piston &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I'd like to see someone with a good budget and a good chassis try an H motor with an XTRAC.</TD></TR></TABLE>

damn i was just thinking that and looked up this thread just to say that but you beat me to it! but yeah that sounds like the move.
-Roger